“Scum!” The Emperor slapped Cao Qinmo across the face.

Little Wen Yi seemed to sense something, and as the Emperor’s slap landed, she burst into loud crying.

This, without a doubt, tugged even more at Cao Qinmo’s heart!

She forced herself not to look back at the tiny child still in her swaddling clothes.

She was afraid that if she looked one more time, she would end up revealing Hua Fei’s role.

But she knew she couldn’t!

Only by dying would Hua Fei spare her daughter!

There was no other way!

The Emperor grabbed Cao Qinmo’s hair and pointed at Wen Yi, shouting, “Look at her! Your daughter! By doing this, how do you think your daughter will grow up to be a decent person?”

After saying that, he forcefully shoved Cao Qinmo to one side.

Seeing Cao Qinmo like this, Zhen Huan wanted to say something, but found herself unable to speak.

The deep love a mother has for her child—when it comes to this, Cao Qinmo deserves Zhen Huan’s respect!

“Liu Ben, drag her out and beat her to death!”

“Your Majesty, Liu Ben hasn’t confessed yet! Perhaps…”

The Empress hastily stepped forward to stop the Emperor from carrying out the punishment.

“Perhaps what, Empress!” Hua Fei snapped, glaring at her, “The person who was behind this has already confessed, and the Emperor has already made his decision. Are you trying to beg for Liu Ben’s life, hoping the Emperor will let him go?”

“Don’t forget, Noble Lady Shen is still lying inside!”

“But…”

The Empress was about to argue, as the people she sent had no direct evidence linking Hua Fei to this matter. So, leaving Liu Ben alive meant they could continue questioning him.

“Liu Ben, I will ask you one last time. Was it Cao Qinmo who instructed you to do all of this?”

“It was me, all me…”

“You scum, I didn’t ask you!”

The Emperor impatiently interrupted Liu Ben’s confession.

Seeing Liu Ben hesitate, Hua Fei walked over to him.

“Liu Ben, speak up if you have something to say. If you wait until the Emperor gets angry, not only will you die, but your entire family will be implicated as well.”

Anyone with eyes in the room could see the threat in Hua Fei’s expression.

But the Emperor remained with his head lowered, fiddling with the jade beads in his hand. He said nothing and didn’t even look at Hua Fei.

This was the Emperor’s strength—when he didn’t want to see something, he could pretend to be blind forever.

Zhen Huan understood this very well, so she just sat there, full of sorrow, without speaking.

The “unconscious” Shen Meizhuang also heard everything happening in the hall.

For a moment, she really wanted to tell the Emperor that everything Cao Qinmo did had Hua Fei’s “contribution.”

But remembering Zhen Huan’s instructions, she forced herself to stay fainted.

“It was Noble Lady Cao who instructed this servant. This servant knows my sins are deep and dares not seek survival. Please, Your Majesty, do not punish my family.”

After hearing this, the Emperor remained silent.

Su Peisheng knew that when the Emperor stayed silent, it meant his anger was rising.

So, he quickly ordered Liu Ben to be dragged out.

Next came the punishment for Cao Qinmo.

“Cao Qinmo, you are to be demoted to a concubine, imprisoned in Qixiang Palace, and never allowed to leave for the rest of your life.”

“Su Peisheng!”

The Emperor’s face was as cold as ice. When Cao Qinmo heard the order, she collapsed to the ground.

She had thought the Emperor would take her life, but instead, she was sentenced to lifetime imprisonment.

But even so, would Hua Fei allow me to live?

Having followed Hua Fei for so many years, I know too many of her secrets. If I stay alive, Hua Fei will always have a thorn in her side and will inevitably vent her anger on my young Wen Yi.

Even the Emperor… Even the Emperor might end up taking his anger out on Wen Yi because of me, her useless mother.

No!

I cannot let my pitiful daughter suffer because of me.

Perhaps only by dying will the Emperor, remembering that Wen Yi has no mother, treat her with more pity.

Su Peisheng, after receiving the Emperor’s orders, brought two little eunuchs to Cao Qinmo.

“Cao… concubine…”

Cao Qinmo seemed to use all her strength to rise from the ground.

She followed Su Peisheng out.

“Bang.”

With a sudden muffled sound at the door, Zhen Huan’s heart skipped a beat.

This sound was so similar to the one she had heard in the Cold Palace in her past life.

Could it be…?

Just then, Su Peisheng hurriedly entered, flustered.

“Your Majesty, Cao concubine has passed away…”

Everyone in the room let out a cold sweat.

Seeing that the Emperor remained silent, Su Peisheng carefully continued, “Before Cao concubine died, she had something to say to you…”

Another round of silence.

Seeing no objection from the Emperor, Su Peisheng continued, “Cao concubine said, please, Your Majesty, for the sake of the young Princess, who has no mother by her side, treat her kindly.”

Perhaps it was the deep bond between mother and daughter, because as soon as Su Peisheng finished speaking, Wen Yi cried out loudly.

If it weren’t for Song Zhi supporting her, Hua Fei might have stumbled.

The Emperor looked at the crying Wen Yi, and there was a trace of tenderness in his eyes.

He didn’t want his daughter to witness such a bloody scene at such a young age.

He ordered Song Zhi to take Wen Yi away and told her to find a more suitable wet nurse.

“What about Cao concubine’s funeral arrangements?”

“Claim it was due to illness.” The Emperor thought for a moment, “Handle it according to the rules for noble consorts.”

The Emperor had never experienced the deep affection of having parents in this life.

His father favored the seventeenth son, and his mother favored the fourteenth.

Only she, the Emperor’s daughter, was neglected by both.

So, even though Cao Qinmo was detestable, the fact that she cared for Wen Yi until her death stirred a sense of pity in the Emperor’s heart.

It was his way of showing respect to Wen Yi.

“Your Majesty, now that Cao concubine is dead, what about the Princess Wen Yi…”

“Before her birthday, the Empress will take care of her. I am a bit tired today; we will discuss this matter another day.”

After saying this, the Emperor turned to Zhen Huan: “Guang Consort, come with me to the Palace of Political Affairs.”

The Empress ordered someone to take good care of Shen Meizhuang, and then everyone was dismissed.

Seeing Hua Fei walk out of here in such good health, the Empress felt a mix of unwillingness and helplessness in her heart.

In the Palace of Political Affairs.

The Emperor took Zhen Huan’s hand: “Huan Huan, today you and Meier suffered.”

“Sishang has already restored justice for Huan Huan and Sister Meier. I’m not wronged, just…”

Zhen Huan glanced at the Emperor: “I pity Princess Wen Yi. She’s so young, and now she has no mother by her side.”

“I’m actually relieved she doesn’t have her by her side. Otherwise, wouldn’t she spoil my daughter?” The Emperor looked at Zhen Huan.

“With so many women in the harem, I don’t know who is best suited to take care of Wen Yi.”

“Didn’t Your Majesty entrust Princess Wen Yi to the Empress to care for?”

Zhen Huan asked tentatively.

Although Zhen Huan knew the Emperor meant the Empress would temporarily look after Wen Yi, so much had changed in this life, and she still wanted to know the Emperor’s exact attitude.